Yugoslav Groups Hold Rival Demonstrations

Reuters

Published: November 19, 1988

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia, Nov. 18—
About 100,000 ethnic Albanians marched through the capital of Yugoslavia's Kosovo Province today in an anti-Serbian protest while Serbs decorated Belgrade with flags on the eve of a major anti-Albanian rally.

The Albanians, angered by Serbia's removal of two provincial leaders in Kosovo, marched through Pristina, 220 miles south of Belgrade, and poured into a stadium where politicians tried to defuse the tension.

The Belgrade television said 100,000 people had joined the demonstration. They later marched to the local Communist Party headquarters, yelling anti-Serbian slogans and saying, ''We won't give up our officials!''

Yugoslavia's state presidency issued a statement warning that it would take ''measures within its competence'' to maintain security in the province, an apparent reference to its power to order the use of the riot police or troops when order is threatened.